Iran is releasing seven crew members from the British tanker Stena Impero. According to the Iranian state television, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that the seven may disembark for humanitarian reasons.
They will leave the country soon. The other sixteen crew members remain on board.
Iran seized the tanker on July 19. That was two weeks after an Iranian tanker was chained to the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. That tanker, which has since been renamed Adrian Darya 1, was allowed to leave earlier this month.
The Iranians denied that there was a connection between the seizure of the tankers. They claimed they confiscated the British tanker because of violations of maritime rules.
“We have no problem with the crew and the captain,” said a ministry spokesperson.
The Swedish Stena Bulk owns the Stena Impero sails under the British flag, but.
That has indicated that the 23 crew members are of Indian, Russian, Latvian and Filipino nationality. The company says it is “delighted” that the “testing” of the seven may be almost over.